I am the sole owner and operator of 3 orthodontic practice locations (two of which were opened before SDC existed) with no contractual ties or business arrangement with Align beyond the license to use their trade mark and provide Invisalign as I have for 19 years.

I am supposed to stop the following practices/procedures in all three of my office locations (even the one that has been in operation for 19 years):

“Informing and educating consumers regarding teeth straightening; obtaining pertinent medical and dental history necessary for the doctor’s (my) decision; scanning and photographing consumer’s teeth to enable a doctor (me) to render services to the consumer; simulating correction that may be obtained to help the consumer decide if clear aligners serve the consumer’s objectives; preparing a draft treatment plan for consumers who have visited the store (private practice – mine);” etc.

I am sure that none of you would attempt to violate SDC rules and regulations for the dental / orthodontic profession by doing any such things!

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Comment on We Told You So by admin https://orthopundit.com/we-told-you-so/#comment-5664
Fri, 08 Mar 2019 10:13:39 +0000https://orthopundit.com/?p=3964#comment-5664Thx. Wiii do.
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Comment on We Told You So by Robin Bethell https://orthopundit.com/we-told-you-so/#comment-5663
Fri, 08 Mar 2019 07:52:45 +0000https://orthopundit.com/?p=3964#comment-5663No problem, and I am so impressed in your responses. Your point of view challenges the status quo in a good way. People are reading. Continue to ignore the Chris Feldman’s of the world. If you want a good read, check out Aligner Nation on facebook. I posted an open letter to Align and the Dentists that use their products.
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Comment on We Told You So by admin https://orthopundit.com/we-told-you-so/#comment-5662
Fri, 08 Mar 2019 04:59:44 +0000https://orthopundit.com/?p=3964#comment-5662I explained why I disagree with Ryan on the facts multiple times but the fact that he is a bracket salesman and not a dentist is pertinent when it comes to credibility of opposing views. He was my 3M rep when I lived in AR, I know him well and he’s definitely trying to curry favor with customers/potential customers by parroting the aao party line. I’ll stand behind what I said. As to supervised neglect I see that daily here in Orlando from traditional orthodontists – treating patients involves responsibilities no matter what the delivery mode and the dental practice act defines those responsibilities. They apply equally to all delivery modes. If a dentist neglects these responsibilities that’s on them not the delivery system. I absolutely dealt with sdc customers who had questions, comments or concerns when I was an ELP. Regularly. If someone wants to just click approve and get paid they can do that with Align cases in and office just as easily as they do it with any aligner system and any delivery system but they are all on the hook for the outcome reguardless of delivery system. Thanks for commenting.
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Comment on We Told You So by Robin Bethell https://orthopundit.com/we-told-you-so/#comment-5661
Fri, 08 Mar 2019 04:41:41 +0000https://orthopundit.com/?p=3964#comment-5661You had me in the comments until you discredited a guy because he wasn’t “a dentist”. His opinion is valid, and he makes good points, even if you see right through them. Address him on his ideas, not his credentials. On the DIY vs DTC topic: I’ve read the post, and I agree with your main points, but let’s clarify what you describe as “treatment rendered and overseen by a licensed dentist”. I am a dentist, and know dentists who oversee these cases. They clicked accept, and collect $50. They even print the name of the dentist on the bag… but can the patient contact them? Have patients in SDC contacted you? I looked up the Texas Dentist, Dr Gary Chapman, and his license leads to a PO Box in El Paso. Do you think he practices there? In my eyes, it is supervised neglect, and may follow the letter of the law (I’m no lawyer), but not the intent. That said, I agree that the patient deserves this option.

Leon Klempner hit it out of the park with his comment.

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Comment on We Told You So by John White https://orthopundit.com/we-told-you-so/#comment-5657
Thu, 07 Mar 2019 22:39:16 +0000https://orthopundit.com/?p=3964#comment-5657As the owner/operator of the only co-branded Invisalign Experience Center that is open to the public already, I believe that my knowledge of the situation may be somewhat more intimate than most. (Except for Ben’s pipeline into SDC)
While I believe that fixed appliance orthodontics is a proven and reliable way of doing orthodontics (I taught at the graduate level for 29 years) I prefer doing Invisalign to doing fixed appliances. After roughly 40 years as an orthodontist I get to choose who and how I treat people, just like decades of patients have chosen to be treated or not treated by me. I offer a choice for those that want their teeth straighter and functioning better but who have not been treated because they don’t want “braces”. And for the record, 3000+ cases using Invisalign and a duly earned reputation as a very good orthodontist I believe qualifies me to comment.
I have been told why Align and SDC got together initially (by people in a position to know) and personally never cared one way or another. Now that they are going thru their divorce, I could care even less. Corporations are in this for their own reasons and I do what I do for my own reasons.
I can’t imagine how SDC can take issue with my practice. I own it 100%. I paid for it 100%. And run it with nothing directed by Align. I charge the same fees as in my other two traditional locations. My contracts are the same and the payment plans are similar (we are experimenting with approaches similar to what OCA did years ago in the new location). My fees are my choice. Patients are free to choose where they are treated just like they choose where to eat.
I am experimenting with a different location design and access to care hours. We have a licensed dentist in attendance every hour that we are open and take the same records that we do in the other two offices (including CBCT).
I’m not thrilled about SDC in general – not the model for healthcare that I would choose – but I understand. I do wish that radiographs were part of their diagnostic records and that they were more transparent about the role of a licensed provider in designing treatment. Given the number of patients being treated and the estimates of the number of “doctors” involved, those “guys” must be working 24/7.
Not going to waste any time in saying that you get what you pay for and all that. The market forces that are changing the delivery of everything will sort this out. I will adapt and continue to do my best to provide quality care, and support the specialty that I am proud to be a part of.
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Comment on We Told You So by Chris Feldman https://orthopundit.com/we-told-you-so/#comment-5656
Thu, 07 Mar 2019 21:13:10 +0000https://orthopundit.com/?p=3964#comment-5656“You make assumptions”, “You crack me up”, “I’ve done it every way and failed yet I still think I’m a superstar”, “Traditional Orthodontists are in trouble if they dont…..”, “I knew it” (even though you’ve claimed to know the future plenty of times in the 5 short years I’ve been in the ortho world)…..I haven’t read this trash in a while, but its good to see things haven’t changed. You guys really do make me laugh….Here’s your gentle reminder that you’re still irrelevant despite attempts to convince yourself and others otherwise!!
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Comment on We Told You So by Ryan Coleman https://orthopundit.com/we-told-you-so/#comment-5650
Wed, 06 Mar 2019 21:02:20 +0000https://orthopundit.com/?p=3964#comment-5650I’ve never pretended to be nothing more than a salesman. You know way more than me about moving teeth. Nobody would argue that. None of what I’ve said on this forum is me pretending to be an orthodontist or knowing anymore about treatment, etc.
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Comment on We Told You So by admin https://orthopundit.com/we-told-you-so/#comment-5649
Wed, 06 Mar 2019 16:54:12 +0000https://orthopundit.com/?p=3964#comment-5649Dude you crack me up. DTC is not DIY no matter how many times you say it. It is treatment rendered and overseen by a licensed dentist in the state where the patient is. That is a fact. Your opinion on the technical issues of orthodontic treatment don’t hold any water because you are a salesman not a dentist. Your assessment of what and what does not happen in DTC treatment and in traditional orthodontic treatment is not accurate and total speculation because you have never practiced either. I have. I’m done wasting time with you. Go ahead and post all the comments you want here but I don’t know how else to explain it – perhaps you can’t understand what I’m saying due to your lack of a formal dental education? We obviously disagree but again, what status, education, degrees, experience do you have that gives you any credibility outside of convincing people to buy expensive brackets from you? The only reason orthodontists/dentists may agree with you is because you are parroting the popular party line. We can revisit this conversation in 5 years and we will see who is right – possibly neither of us. But I won’t spend any more time arguing treatment, theory, philosophy or ethics with someone who is clearly trying to take us on to look good for clients and potential clients who buy into the AAO’s groupthink in order to sell product. Have a great week.
ben
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Comment on We Told You So by Ryan Coleman https://orthopundit.com/we-told-you-so/#comment-5648
Wed, 06 Mar 2019 16:41:31 +0000https://orthopundit.com/?p=3964#comment-5648I said people shouldn’t be able to choose? No I didn’t say that. I’m saying that when the public sees an ad for DIY ortho or their GP says they can straighten their teeth or a company that only sells aligners says every malaclussion can be treated with aligners, the patient isn’t getting all the info. And you can make other analogies about other businesses or products like beer (I love beer) but it isn’t always a good way to anologize to the specialty of orthodontics. Doctor less consults, attachment less aligners (every company who makes aligners has these), non doc scanning days are all great. Those aren’t the same as DIY ortho companies. Totally different.
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